It was narrated that 'Ali said: "On the day of (the battle of) Al-Ahzab, the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: 'May Allah fill their graves and their houses with fire, for they kept us busy and distracted us from the Middle Prayer until the sun set."'

وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِى شَيْبَةَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ عَنْ هِشَامٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَبِيدَةَ عَنْ عَلِىٍّ قَالَ لَمَّا كَانَ يَوْمُ الأَحْزَابِ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- « مَلأَ اللَّهُ قُبُورَهُمْ وَبُيُوتَهُمْ نَارًا كَمَا حَبَسُونَا وَشَغَلُونَا عَنِ الصَّلاَةِ الْوُسْطَى حَتَّى غَابَتِ الشَّمْسُ ».

It was narrated that 'Ali said: "On the day of (the battle of) Al-Ahzab, the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: 'They distracted us from the Middle Prayer until the sun set. May Allah fill their graves with fire, and their houses,' or 'their bellies"' - Shu'bah was not sure whether he said houses or bellies.

وَحَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ قَالَ ابْنُ الْمُثَنَّى حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ قَتَادَةَ يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ أَبِى حَسَّانَ عَنْ عَبِيدَةَ عَنْ عَلِىٍّ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- يَوْمَ الأَحْزَابِ « شَغَلُونَا عَنْ صَلاَةِ الْوُسْطَى حَتَّى آبَتِ الشَّمْسُ مَلأَ اللَّهُ قُبُورَهُمْ نَارًا أَوْ بُيُوتَهُمْ أَوْ بُطُونَهُمْ ». شَكَّ شُعْبَةُ فِى الْبُيُوتِ وَالْبُطُونِ.

'Ali said: "On the day of (the battle of) Al-Ahzab, when he was sitting at one of the openings in the ditch, the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: 'They distracted us from the Middle Prayer until the sun set. May Allah fill their graves and their houses' - or 'their graves and their bellies - with fire."'

وَحَدَّثَنَاهُ أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِى شَيْبَةَ وَزُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ عَنْ شُعْبَةَ عَنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ الْجَزَّارِ عَنْ عَلِىٍّ ح وَحَدَّثَنَاهُ عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ - وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُ - قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبِى حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ عَنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنْ يَحْيَى سَمِعَ عَلِيًّا يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- يَوْمَ الأَحْزَابِ وَهُوَ قَاعِدٌ عَلَى فُرْضَةٍ مِنْ فُرَضِ الْخَنْدَقِ « شَغَلُونَا عَنِ الصَّلاَةِ الْوُسْطَى حَتَّى غَرَبَتِ الشَّمْسُ مَلأَ اللَّهُ قُبُورَهُمْ وَبُيُوتَهُمْ - أَوْ قَالَ قُبُورَهُمْ وَبُطُونَهُمْ - نَارًا ».

It was narrated that 'Ali said: "The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said on the day of (the battle of) Al-Ahzab: "They distracted us from the Middle Prayer, 'Asr prayer. May Allah fill their houses and their graves with fire." Then he prayed it between the two evening prayers, between Maghrib and 'Isha'.

وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِى شَيْبَةَ وَزُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ وَأَبُو كُرَيْبٍ قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ عَنْ مُسْلِمِ بْنِ صُبَيْحٍ عَنْ شُتَيْرِ بْنِ شَكَلٍ عَنْ عَلِىٍّ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- يَوْمَ الأَحْزَابِ « شَغَلُونَا عَنِ الصَّلاَةِ الْوُسْطَى صَلاَةِ الْعَصْرِ مَلأَ اللَّهُ بُيُوتَهُمْ وَقُبُورَهُمْ نَارًا ». ثُمَّ صَلاَّهَا بَيْنَ الْعِشَاءَيْنِ بَيْنَ الْمَغْرِبِ وَالْعِشَاءِ.

It was narrated that 'Abdullah said: "The idolators kept the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) from praying 'Asr until the sun had turned red or yellow. The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: 'They distracted us from the Middle Prayer, 'Asr prayer. May Allah fill their bellies and their graves with fire."'

وَحَدَّثَنَا عَوْنُ بْنُ سَلاَّمٍ الْكُوفِىُّ أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ طَلْحَةَ الْيَامِىُّ عَنْ زُبَيْدٍ عَنْ مُرَّةَ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ حَبَسَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- عَنْ صَلاَةِ الْعَصْرِ حَتَّى احْمَرَّتِ الشَّمْسُ أَوِ اصْفَرَّتْ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- « شَغَلُونَا عَنِ الصَّلاَةِ الْوُسْطَى صَلاَةِ الْعَصْرِ مَلأَ اللَّهُ أَجْوَافَهُمْ وَقُبُورَهُمْ نَارًا ». أَوْ قَالَ « حَشَا اللَّهُ أَجْوَافَهُمْ وَقُبُورَهُمْ نَارًا ».

It was narrated that Abu Yunus, the freed slave of 'Aishah, said: "'Aishah told me to write a Mushaf for her, and she said: 'When you reach this verse - Guard strictly (five obligatory) As-Salawat (the prayers) especially the middle Salat... - call me.' When I reached it, I called her, and she dictated to me the words of Allah: 'Guard strictly (five obligatory) As-Salawat (the prayers) especially the middle Salat and 'Asr prayer. And stand before Allah with obedience.' 'Aishah said: 'I heard it from the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w)."'

وَحَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى التَّمِيمِىُّ قَالَ قَرَأْتُ عَلَى مَالِكٍ عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَسْلَمَ عَنِ الْقَعْقَاعِ بْنِ حَكِيمٍ عَنْ أَبِى يُونُسَ مَوْلَى عَائِشَةَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ أَمَرَتْنِى عَائِشَةُ أَنْ أَكْتُبَ لَهَا مُصْحَفًا وَقَالَتْ إِذَا بَلَغْتَ هَذِهِ الآيَةَ فَآذِنِّى (حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ وَالصَّلاَةِ الْوُسْطَى) فَلَمَّا بَلَغْتُهَا آذَنْتُهَا فَأَمْلَتْ عَلَىَّ حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ وَالصَّلاَةِ الْوُسْطَى وَصَلاَةِ الْعَصْرِ. وَقُومُوا لِلَّهِ قَانِتِينَ. قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ سَمِعْتُهَا مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم-.

It was narrated from Al-Fudail bin Marzuq from Shaqiq bin 'Uqbah, that Al-Bara' bin 'Azib said: "This verse was revealed - 'Guard strictly (five obligatory) prayers and 'Asr prayer...' and we recited it for as long as Allah willed, then Allah abrogated, it and revealed: 'Guard strictly (five obligatory) As-Salawat (the prayers) especially the middle Salat)... A man who was sitting beside Shaqiq said to him: "So it is the 'Asr prayer." Al-Bara' said: "I have told you how it was revealed and how it was abrogated, and Allah knows best."

حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الْحَنْظَلِىُّ أَخْبَرَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ آدَمَ حَدَّثَنَا الْفُضَيْلُ بْنُ مَرْزُوقٍ عَنْ شَقِيقِ بْنِ عُقْبَةَ عَنِ الْبَرَاءِ بْنِ عَازِبٍ قَالَ نَزَلَتْ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ وَصَلاَةِ الْعَصْرِ. فَقَرَأْنَاهَا مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ نَسَخَهَا اللَّهُ فَنَزَلَتْ ( حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ وَالصَّلاَةِ الْوُسْطَى) فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ كَانَ جَالِسًا عِنْدَ شَقِيقٍ لَهُ هِىَ إِذًا صَلاَةُ الْعَصْرِ. فَقَالَ الْبَرَاءُ قَدْ أَخْبَرْتُكَ كَيْفَ نَزَلَتْ وَكَيْفَ نَسَخَهَا اللَّهُ. وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ.

It was narrated from Jabir bin 'Abdullah that on the day of Al-Khandaq (i.e., the battle of Al-Ahzab), 'Umar bin Al-Khattab started cursing the disbelievers of the Quraish and said: "O Messenger of Allah, by Allah I could not pray 'Asr until the sun was about to set." The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: "By Allah, I have not prayed either." We went down to Buthan, and the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) performed Wudu' and so did we. Then the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) prayed 'Asr after the sun had set, then he prayed Maghrib after that.

وَحَدَّثَنِى أَبُو غَسَّانَ الْمِسْمَعِىُّ وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى عَنْ مُعَاذِ بْنِ هِشَامٍ - قَالَ أَبُو غَسَّانَ حَدَّثَنَا مُعَاذُ بْنُ هِشَامٍ - حَدَّثَنِى أَبِى عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ أَبِى كَثِيرٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو سَلَمَةَ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ أَنَّ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ يَوْمَ الْخَنْدَقِ جَعَلَ يَسُبُّ كُفَّارَ قُرَيْشٍ وَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهِ مَا كِدْتُ أَنْ أُصَلِّىَ الْعَصْرَ حَتَّى كَادَتْ أَنْ تَغْرُبَ الشَّمْسُ. فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- « فَوَاللَّهِ إِنْ صَلَّيْتُهَا ». فَنَزَلْنَا إِلَى بُطْحَانَ فَتَوَضَّأَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- وَتَوَضَّأْنَا فَصَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- الْعَصْرَ بَعْدَ مَا غَرَبَتِ الشَّمْسُ ثُمَّ صَلَّى بَعْدَهَا الْمَغْرِبَ.

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said: "The Angels of the night and the day come to you in succession, and they meet at the Fajr prayer and at the 'Asr prayer. Then those who stayed among you ascend and their Lord asks them, although He knows best about them, 'How did you leave My slaves?' and they say: 'We left them while they were praying, and we came to them while they were praying."'

حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ يَحْيَى قَالَ قَرَأْتُ عَلَى مَالِكٍ عَنْ أَبِى الزِّنَادِ عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ عَنْ أَبِى هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- قَالَ « يَتَعَاقَبُونَ فِيكُمْ مَلاَئِكَةٌ بِاللَّيْلِ وَمَلاَئِكَةٌ بِالنَّهَارِ وَيَجْتَمِعُونَ فِى صَلاَةِ الْفَجْرِ وَصَلاَةِ الْعَصْرِ ثُمَّ يَعْرُجُ الَّذِينَ بَاتُوا فِيكُمْ فَيَسْأَلُهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِهِمْ كَيْفَ تَرَكْتُمْ عِبَادِى فَيَقُولُونَ تَرَكْنَاهُمْ وَهُمْ يُصَلُّونَ وَأَتَيْنَاهُمْ وَهُمْ يُصَلُّونَ ».

Qais bin Abi Hazim said: "I heard Jarir bin 'Abdullah say: 'We were sitting with the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) when he looked at the moon while it was full, and he said: "You will see your Lord as you are seeing this moon, and you will not crowd one another in order to see Him. If you can, do not let yourselves be distracted from praying before the sun rises and before it sets," meaning Fajr and 'Asr. Then Jarir recited: "And glorify the praises of your Lord before the rising of the sun, and before its setting."

وَحَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ حَدَّثَنَا مَرْوَانُ بْنُ مُعَاوِيَةَ الْفَزَارِىُّ أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ أَبِى خَالِدٍ حَدَّثَنَا قَيْسُ بْنُ أَبِى حَازِمٍ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ جَرِيرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ كُنَّا جُلُوسًا عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- إِذْ نَظَرَ إِلَى الْقَمَرِ لَيْلَةَ الْبَدْرِ فَقَالَ « أَمَا إِنَّكُمْ سَتَرَوْنَ رَبَّكُمْ كَمَا تَرَوْنَ هَذَا الْقَمَرَ لاَ تُضَامُّونَ فِى رُؤْيَتِهِ فَإِنِ اسْتَطَعْتُمْ أَنْ لاَ تُغْلَبُوا عَلَى صَلاَةٍ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ وَقَبْلَ غُرُوبِهَا ». يَعْنِى الْعَصْرَ وَالْفَجْرَ ثُمَّ قَرَأَ جَرِيرٌ (وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ وَقَبْلَ غُرُوبِهَا ).